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The AFC.comRodrigo rates Kyrgyz keeperMonday, 28 May 2012Dubai: Japan coach Miguel Rodrigo has singled out Kyrgyzstan’s Kirill Ermolov as one of the best keepers of the tournament and a player that could be pivotal in determining the outcome of Tuesday’s quarter-final at the Al Wasl Stadium.
Japan and Kyrgyzstan met at the same stage at the 2010 AFC Futsal Championship when Rodrigo’s side put four past Ermolov but the Spaniard is expecting a much closer contest this time around particularly given the fine form of the Kyrgyz keeper.
“Comparing them to the team we met at the quarter-finals in the last tournament I think the game will be much tougher and we must show them a great deal of respect,” the Spaniard said at the pre-match press conference.
“I expect it to be a very tight game and I don’t think there will be much difference between the winner and loser.”
One of the reasons Rodrigo is anticipating a close contest is the form of imposing 27-year-old Nalogovik keeper Ermolov, who the Japan coach believes to be one of the standout stoppers in Dubai.
“Kyrgyzstan has one of the three best goalkeepers at the tournament along with [Mostafa] Nazari of Iran and our own keeper [Hisamitsu] Kawahara.
“I am sure this match will be very difficult and from what I can see from watching the Kyrgyzstan matches here is that they have improved a lot especially in attack.”
Japan will be looking to get the better of Ermolov when they renew acquaintances with Kyrgyzstan at the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship quarter-final, which kicks-off on Tuesday at 1830 UAE time and will be streamed live on www.the-afc.com.
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The AFC.comWorld Cup hosts focused on AsiaMonday, 28 May 2012Dubai: Thailand may have a place at the 2012 FIFA World Cup as tournament hosts but that does not mean they are taking the AFC Futsal Championship lightly said veteran coach Victor Hermans.
Progression to the semi-finals of the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship books a ticket to the global tournament in Thailand in November and as such it has been more that stated target of teams here in Dubai more so than an attempt to end the dominance of ten-time continental champions Iran.
But Hermans insists that the slick South East Asians, who have advanced to the quarter-finals with a 100% record following wins over Kyrgyzstan (2-0), Turkmenistan (5-1) and hosts UAE (4-2), are out to make in impact in the Asian arena.
"Just because we have are taking part in the World Cup it doesn't mean we don't want to go as far as we can here and we are fighting to go all the way to the final," Hermans said ahead of the ASEAN champions' quarter-finals clash with Lebanon.
"Lebanon have a good style under their Spanish coach [Francisco Araujo] and have very good individual players so I am expecting a very tough game tomorrow.
"We are a young team with only four players that have experience at this tournament but we will do our best to win this match and to reach the final.
"Our aim is to go as far in the tournament as possible so our players will be able to get valuable experience."
Hermans is one of the most experienced individuals in the Asian game with the Dutchman, who was head of UEFA's futsal Technical Study Groups, having coached Hong Kong, Malaysian and most saliently Iran.
And a victory over Lebanon could see Hermans' Thailand contest a place in the final with Iran, who he led to the 2001 AFC Futsal Championship.
"I am not thinking about Iran at the moment and I am only focussing on Lebanon. I will look at the quarter-final and if we win that then I will look at the semi-final.
"But a big part of my life was spent with Iran and for sure I want to play them in the semi-final."
Herman's chances of coming face to face with the his former team rests on Thailand beating Lebanon and, of course, the defending champions and ten-time winners defeating Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals.
Thailand's match against Lebanon kicks-off at 1830 UAE time while the rematch of the 2012 final between Iran and Uzbekistan kicks-off at 1530 UAE time. Both matches will be streamed live on www.the-afc.com
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The AFC.comAraujo aware of ‘great responsibility’Monday, 28 May 2012Dubai: Head coach Francisco Araujo has stressed the significance of Tuesday’s 2012 AFC Futsal Championship quarter-final clash with Thailand with Lebanon just won victory away from the nation’s first appearance in a FIFA World Cup finals tournament.
Lebanon battled their way to a place in the last eight after three hard-fought group stage matches saw them finish second behind Group B winners Japan following a last-gasp 3-2 loss to the 2006 AFC Futsal Championship champions before recording narrow victories over Chinese Taipei (3-2) and Tajikistan (2-1).
And now if Araujo’s side can defeat of ASEAN champions Thailand, who will host the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup, then they will make Lebanese sporting history as the first team from that country to take part in a World Cup finals whether in futsal or football.
“Our objective is to qualify for the World Cup and I have heard that a lot of people have been following us back in Lebanon; people that haven’t followed futsal before so there is a great responsibility on us,” the former Costa Rica coach said at Monday’s pre-match press conference.
“We have heard that people will be taking the day off work and children will not go to school so that they can watch this important match so we want to make them proud the next day, We want to do something special for them.”
“Thailand is a very strong team with a lot of potential and I am expecting a big match tomorrow. We have to show our style and what this game is all about.”
Lebanon will attempt to make history by defeating Thailand in the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship quarter-final, which kicks-off on Tuesday at 1830 UAE time and will be streamed live on www.the-afc.com.
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The AFC.comUzbeks unfazed by imperious IranMonday, 28 May 2012Dubai: Uzbekistan will have to beat all odds and ignore daunting history if they are to topple 10-time Asian Champions Iran in Tuesday’s quarter-finals of the AFC Futsal Championship.
In most recent history Asian bigwigs Iran played in the final of the 11th edition two years ago which they won comfortably.
Rest of the top-ranked Asian futsal countries have been trying to dethrone the continental boss for some years now to no avail. Despite playing some good football against Iran in pre-tournament build-up, these countries are just shy of producing the especial against the giants and Uzbekistan know the limited option they have.
“Of course they are the best team in this competition without any doubt,” said Uzbekistan’s Spanish coach Jose Mendez.
“When you talk about Iran you are talking about the same level of Brazil and Spain in world’s futsal so they earn all the respect we can give them.
“We are realistic enough to face Iran but at the same time the team are not giving up before the match, you play us 10 times against Iran, the majority of times we will lose but not all."
There were glimpses of other contenders matching Iran specially in 2006 when Japan defeated them in the semifinal and went on to winning the final beating Uzbekistan 5-1 but Iran stormed back strongly and won the cup in 2008 and 2010.
Uzbekistan started the campaign with a surprised 1-1 draw but then stamped their authority by beating China and Indonesia but an inferior goal difference with group toppers Kuwait set up their clash with Group C winners Iran who are not letting the Asian crown go easily.
“We have told this before and will tell it again that we have immense respect for all the sides playing here in Dubai but, like them, we came here to win and will give our best to win,” Iran coach Sanie Arani Ali said.
“Uzbekistan are a good side who play good futsal but we came here to win and keep our dominance intact,” he added
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The AFC.comKuwait to continue impressing AsiaMonday, 28 May 2012Dubai: Kuwait futsal is young and they have rarely entertained a proud futsal moment before but whatever happens against Australia on Tuesday, the Kuwaitis are the big winners of 2012 AFC Futsal Championship.
Coming unscathed through Group D having giants in the likes of Uzbekistan and China and formidable opponents Indonesia and dumping Uzbekistan to second position of the group which helped them avoid Iran in quarter-finals, Kuwait is on the brink of making history by booking a place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand.
The November showpiece is important but veteran coach Luis Fonseca is not looking beyond tomorrow’s match against Australia.
“To be very honest, all my focus and my team’s concern is the Australia match at the moment, we are not dreaming about beyond that but of course there is a bigger prize up for grabs,” Fonseca said.
The Spanish tactician has made Kuwait from a mediocre side to the attractive young side with full of energy and runs which have been reaping fruits for them as they wrecked up 15 goals in three matches despite being hold by Uzbekistan 1-1 in the first match of the campaign.
“Australia is a good physical side, they play solid as a team and it will be a balanced match tomorrow and anybody can emerge winners,” said Fonseca, who coaching CV includes experiences of coaching seven Spanish La Liga futsal side in previous 15 years.
Australia coach Steven Knight, who was in a jolly good mood during Iran’s 9- 0 win on Sunday, also echoes Fonseca on the prospect of both the sides.
“It will be a 50-50 match and both the sides will have their chances tomorrow,” he said.
“It’s pretty simple, approached the match positively and play with you strength, there are chances. Our aim before the tournament was at least to ensure Australia in the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012 and with just one match to get that aim, it’s pretty obvious that we are taking this match very seriously so as Kuwait.”
Australia defeated Qatar and Korea Republic to emerge as group runners-up of Group C to face Kuwait in the quarterfinals.
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